Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management in Pacific Island Countries National Integrated Water Resource Management Diagnostic Report Kiribati Published Date: November 2007 Draft SOPAC Miscellaneous Report 638 1 SIWRWMPIC-National IWRM Diagnostic Report Republic of Kiribati Acronyms AIDAB Australian International Development Assistance Bureau (now AusAID) ADB Asian Development Bank AGO Attorney General’s Office ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research AMAK Kiribati Women’s Federation AusAID Australian Agency for International Development CCA Climate Change Adaptation CCST Climate Change Study Team CHARM Comprehensive Hazard and Risk Management CIRAD DCC Development Coordinating Committee EU European Union ECD Environment and Conservation Division (within MELAD) EHU Environmental Health Unit (within MHMS) ENSO El Niño- Southern Oscillation Index EVI Environmental Vulnerability Index GDP Gross Domestic Product GEF Global Environment Facility GOK Government of Kiribati HSA Hot Spot Analysis ICWM Integrated Coastal and Watershed Management IHP International Hydrological Programme (of UNESCO) IWRM Integrated Water Resource and Sanitation Management KANGO The Kiribati Association of NGOs KAP Kiribati Adaptation Program (Phases I, II & III) KL Kilolitre ( = 1 m3) KWASP Kiritimati Water Supply and Sanitation Project MABS Multi-Agent Based Simulation MCTTD Ministry of Communications, Transport and Tourism Development MELAD Ministry of Environment, Land, and Agricultural Development MEYSD Ministry of Education Youth and Sport Development MFED Ministry of Finance and Economic Development MFMRD Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development MHMS Ministry of Health and Medical Services 2 SIWRWMPIC-National IWRM Diagnostic Report Republic of Kiribati MISA Ministry of Internal and Social Affairs MLPID Ministry of Line and Phoenix Island Development MPWU Ministry of Public Works and Utilities MO Meteorology Office (within MCTTD) MPWU Ministry of Public Works and Utilities NAPA National Adaptation Plan of Action NCC National Council of Churches NASC National Adaptation Steering Committee NEP National Economic Planning (within MFEP) NGO Non-government organisation NZAID New Zealand International Aid and Development Agency NSPRAU National Strategic Policy and Risk Assessment Unit (within OB) NWSCC National Water and Sanitation Coordination Committee OB Office Te Beretitenti (the President) OFM Oceanic Fisheries Management OICWSP Outer Island Community Water Supply Project PfWG Pacific Water Governance PIC Pacific Island Country PUB Public Utilities Board (within MPWU) PVC Poly vinyl chloride PWD Public Works Division (within MLPID) RAP The Pacific Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Water Management RPU Rural Planning Unit (within MISA) SAP The Strategic Action Programme, International Waters of the Pacific Small Island Developing States SAPHE Sanitation, Public Health and Environment Improvement Project SIDS Small Island Developing States SIWRWMPIC Sustainable Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management in Pacific Island Countries SOI Southern Oscillation Index SOPAC Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community UNCDF United Nations Capital Development Fund UNDP United Nations Development Program UNDTCD United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development 3 SIWRWMPIC-National IWRM Diagnostic Report Republic of Kiribati UNDESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs UNEP United Nations Environment Program UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UPR Uniform price rebate WEU Water Engineering Unit (within MPWU) WHO World Health Organization WUE Water Use Efficiency 4 Protecting groundwater sources Impact assessment Water conservation Climate change impacts Land use guidelines Sustainability Environment Economy Health Development Health education opportunities Microbial monitoring Job creation Sanitation and water Cost recovery quality guidelines Reinvestment Community Infrastructure Demand Reticulation systems Groundwater galleries Water conservation Rainwater harvesting Safe wells Health and hygiene Sewerage systems Appropriate sanitation Land use practices Solid waste disposal Resource monitoring Participation Interdependencies in the water and sanitation sector in Kiribati 5 SIWRWMPIC- National IWRM Diagnostic Report Kiribati TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms.........................................................................................................................................2 Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................10 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................12 1. Introduction........................................................................................................................13 1.1 Sustainable integrated water resources and wastewater management in Pacific Island countries ....................................................................................................................................13 1.2 Linkage with the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Sustainable Water Resource Management..............................................................................................................................14 1.3 Aim of the SIWRWMPIC................................................................................................15 1.4 Scope of this Report ......................................................................................................15 2. General overview ..............................................................................................................17 2.1 Country Background Information ...................................................................................17 2.1.1 Location, distribution and topography ......................................................................17 2.1.2 Climate, soils, hydrogeology, vegetation and agriculture .........................................19 2.1.3 Demography and socio-economic aspects ..............................................................22 3. Integrated water resources management for Kiribati ........................................................26 3.1. Water resources management.......................................................................................26 3.1.1 Sources of freshwater ..............................................................................................26 3.1.1.1 Bottled water. ..............................................................................................................26 3.1.1.2 Shallow fresh groundwater..........................................................................................26 3.1.1.3 Rainwater harvesting. T ..............................................................................................26 3.1.2 Types of freshwater use ...........................................................................................27 3.1.3 Major issues and concerns.......................................................................................28 3.1.3.1 Provision of adequate water for human health and community development.......28 In 28 3.1.4 Provision of equitable access to safe water .............................................................30 3.1.5 Protection of water sources......................................................................................31 3.1.6 Provision of appropriate sanitation ...........................................................................31 3.1.7 Impact of droughts on water supplies.......................................................................32 3.1.8 Impact of sea level rise on water resources .............................................................32 3.1.9 Provision of sustainable water supply and sanitation systems.................................32 3.1.10 Ensuring groundwater supply systems do not compromise rights or livelihoods ...33 3.1.11 Improvement in water governance, capacity building and maintenance of skills ...33 3.1.12 Improvement in knowledge and monitoring............................................................34 3.3.13 Land and water ownership in water source areas and common perceptions ........34 3.1.4 Methods to manage impacts and concerns (IWRM) ................................................34 3.1.5 National Water and Sanitation Coordination Committee..........................................35 3.1.6. Water resources assessment and monitoring .........................................................36 3.1.7. Conservation and reuse ..........................................................................................36 3.1.8 Protection of water reserves.....................................................................................37 3.1.9 Managing the impact of drought...............................................................................38 3.2. Island vulnerability.........................................................................................................38 3.2.1 Types of disasters ....................................................................................................38 3.2.1.1 Disease outbreaks.......................................................................................................38 3.2.1.2 Severe droughts. .........................................................................................................38